SR-71 on display at the Kansas State Cosmosphere and Space Center, located
in Hutchinson, Kansas. While the blackbird is displayed in a very
dramatic pose in the museum atrium, it is nearly impossible to photograph.
The front part of the airplane is in direct sunlight, while the back half
is in a dark area of the museum. The atrium itself is narrow, which leaves
only one camera angle that looks right up the blackbird’s nose. This
museum itself is spectacular, and is well worth the trip from where ever
you are located. The founders did extensive “dumpster diving” during the
glory years of the space program, and saved a large number of artifacts
that would have otherwise been scrapped. The Cosmosphere is world known
for being the best at space craft restoration. As a result, they were
trusted with the task of restoring Liberty Bell 7, the Project Mercury capsule
that sank after splashdown and remained underwater nearly 40 years. The
movie Apollo 13 relied heavily on the Cosmosphere for props and building
the realistic movie sets.